Page 258 of Castings & Curses

“So, you were never trying to hurt Jade,” Tana said after I explained my suspicions.

“No. I wasn’t. Look, I realize I come on a bit strong, but please understand it’s a defense mechanism. I didn’t grow up like a lot of you did. I knew magic existed, of course, but my family, well, they were not the supportive type.”

“I don’t know what that’s like, to not have a support system,” I began when the quiet became too much as we all took in the sad truth of Mabe’s life.

“Oh, it’s not so bad,” she tried joking, but we all knew it really was that bad.

“But I can promise you have one now, Mabe. We know your secret and have all promised to keep it safe. Now that I know giving you earth magic will sustain you and not deplete me, I will share it whenever you need it. I’ll be your support system,” I promised.

“So will I,” Arlo added.

His statement was immediately followed by the others, nods, and verbal affirmations. My heart swelled as I realized these people, my coven, were so damn amazing. I was finding my place with them, and for the first time, I felt as if I was much more than just good friend material. I was an integral part of the team—more important than simple tea maker or ingredient grower.

“Me too.”

“And me.”

“Me as well,”

“You got me, and I gooot youuuu, Mabe—get it?” Rio sang off key, referring to a famous Sonny and Cher song that was probably way too old for most of us.

Mabe was laughing so hard, tears were running down her face as the rest of us snorted and shook our heads. We ate and chatted, and I mentioned to everyone Arlo would be hanging around more.

“I will, huh?” he whispered, wrapping his arm around me. He had a big, cocky grin on his movie star handsome face, and I nuzzled his nose with mine.

“If you’re lucky,” I told him, knowing he liked it when I was confident.

I was not putting on a show, however. With Arlo, I felt my confidence soar. He was good for that, good for me. We talked about everything and nothing, and there was no need to fill silences with inane babble. When we were together, that was enough. He soothed my soul, like a balm to a wound. Made me feel brighter, stronger, more put together than ever before. He completed me, and I loved him to the soles of my feet.

“Hey Jade, I have some questions for you,” Enok said while Magnus and Rio cleared the food from the table.

We each took turns cooking and cleaning up after meals when we were not using the caf. We did that with other chores as well, and I was happy to say the guys more than pulled their weight.

“Sure,” I replied, indulging in a second cup of orange pekoe tea.

“Before you get started, walk me to the door, Jade?”

“Yeah,” I said, standing up.

“So, I have to get down to the infirmary for my rounds,” Arlo said, pulling me into the hallway.

He clasped his hands around my waist—something that would have made me pause and tense before, but not now. Arlo loved my body and made no secrets about it. If he wanted to put his hands on my soft waist, dragging my curvy body against his, then he could have at it. The sexy hot boy healer I’d been crushing on for weeks was finally mine, and even better, I was his.

To me, the contrast of his hardness to my pliability was absolutely delicious. He leaned down, and it never failed to surprise me how tall the man was, at least a foot more than me, as he claimed my lips in a firm, passionate kiss away from the prying eyes of my roommates.

“I can’t wait to see you later,” I told him, smacking lips one more time.

“Me too, my sweet Jade. I love you. Be the badass when I’m not there,” he told me proudly, pure joy dancing in his green gaze.

“I will. I love you too,” I said right back, feeling that love wrap around me surely as his arms were.

We kissed again before dragging ourselves away and I went back inside to find Enok had a pile of books on the table. He was wading through them when I rejoined him. I sat down and waited. Sometimes, it took the mage a minute or ten to refocus after losing himself in reading. It was cool, I could wait.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, then looked at me. “Explain the earth magic thing again.”

“Okay, well, it’s not a secret exactly, but I think perhaps it’s misunderstood. Earth witches and wizards pray to the Goddess whenever we perform casts or spells during harvest and sowing seasons,” I began, explaining the rituals earth magic practitioners had engaged in for centuries regarding praying to and thanking Mother Earth for her bounty.

“I don’t think I ever realized what it is earth witches do, Jade, and I apologize for that,” Maia said, having joined us.

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